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Friday, May 30, 2008

Speed!

OK, that kind of ramps is surely not typical of Paris (I'm sure you can find it in most cities around the world) but I kind of like this photo because of its composition and the graffitis in the background. I'm glad it's Friday, and I'm getting ready for our coming up theme day ("My corner local shop"). Talking about corner shops, I just learnt that I have "lurkers" at Café Bastille in San Francisco, let me wave at them from here ;) Have a wonderful weekend everyone, here it's cloudy AND rainy ;(

107 comments:

Nice one, very young (is it to celebrate Micheal youth?!)Did this people asked you what you were doing here, taking a picture of them? If you were wearing suit, they probalby wondered! :)Nice week end too, not SO rainy Eric, be positive.

GREAT SHOT!!!! I really like this one! Awesome :) Too bad you didn't catch a skater jumping up in in the air, but I stilllove the colors and the movement of this shot!

All the expats try Cafe Bastille at least once, and usually agree that it's "not bad!" And the lunch menu is not too expensive. We really should have taken you there, Eric. You're just gonna have to come back and meet your new friends! ;)

Is Michael having a birthday? Eric, will you have time to go have lunch with him on behalf of all of PDP and photograph the cake (or a coffee cup, or the glass of wine, or a spoon, or something, preferably from an unusual angle ;) ?

If not, let me wish you a very happy B'day Michael, and many more to come!

Eric, Graffiti has become a problem the world over but in this context it's really makes a positive contribution to a great photo.

In Chicago our mayor fights graffiti with a passion. Areas known to be graffiti prone are patrolled and the graffiti is removed as soon as it shows up. The mayor hopes that this approach will frustrate the artists and discourage them.

I tried to 'translate' the graffiti (more than slang), or at least to understand some things. It's hard!I like the An'Art'Chik', this one is really funny, very 'second degré'.Then I discovered that the head on the right top, hidden by new graffitis was the head of our President! My discovery is corroborated by the fact that 'Fallait pas voter Sarko' is written on it. LOL

I love the shot, but I'm often torn about liking grafitti photos. Is it the same in France as in the US that lots of the initials are just for the ego of the writer - no art or political meaning - just put up the initials as many places as possible?

Nice shot, Eric! Love the movement. We have a newly built skateboard park in our little town, away from the main part of downtown (actually half a mile out of it!!) that there are usually plenty of bikers and skateboarders riding every day. Interesting to watch, even when you have to cringe in fear! :)

Here it is still early evening on Thursday, so I have many hours of work around my yard yet to do. But I'm thankful to have such a beautiful yard to work in!!

Happy Birthday, Michael!! We all wish you the best for the year to come!

Tomate, I think there IS someone jumping (guy in the background in the black T-shirt).

Guille, you are right -- commenting in English should give me an advantage, so extra congrats to you (but I'm a klutzy typist, remember?). The first time I read the graffiti that says "touche" (I think), I thought it said "ouch" -- that might actually be appropriate for this place.

Best of "Birthdays" to you Michael. I mean you're in Paris and that's got to help with the celebrations, non? As to this photo...I think the graffiti is quite extraordinary and I can see why you were drawn to shoot this scene, Eric. BTW...there certainly is a lot of GFing going on. Perhaps the new GF contest should be who can be the first and also the last to log on for a "DOUBLE GF" or a "GF au double?" French time of course.;-)

Oh, yeah, good catch, Alexa! (we could always photoshop a skateboard about 1 meter under his feet, uh? ;)

My position with graffiti; I believe they have a right to exist on certain buildings, certain concrete walls, and other areas that are greatly improved by the colorful additions. There are tons of these areas in every city. However, I think they should not appear on historical buildings, statues, monuments. Would you believe, last year I saw a graffiti on the aloe plant sitting outside our building!! I think eventually, someone just cut out that entire piece of the plant. On a plant?!! Arrghhh! And, a few months ago I noticed that the turn-of-the century inscription on one side of an old building in Chinatown is now covered in graffiti... not even good looking! Pfff... There are so many other places where people can draw stuff and nobody minds, why did they have to pick that old building?! Damn.

This is a perfect photo (bright colors and action!) to bookend the story I read in this morning's San Francisco paper about a 12-year old skateboarder in SF who learned that a skate park in Oakland had too many kids wanting to skate, but didn't have their own boards and the park only had six for the kids to use. He decided to donate 4 of his own, and put the word out so that other kids would donate their extra boards, and was able to drop of 16 boards. So I don't just think "skatepunks" when I see this photo.

I love the fresh colors in this photograph.The trees at the top & the blurry grey accentuate the graffiti perfectly. It was especially cool to blow it up & enjoy it even more. Happy Birthday Eric & Michael!I agree with Tomate, please celebrate together while at the same time documenting the fun in a way only you can.I'm so glad you are feeling better Lynn.

Tomate, I told Eric last year when he was here doing an article about businesses in the Bay Area owned by French people that we should have his PDP party at Cafe Bastille. I could not attend though as I was leaving town for Montreal. I told Eric that many people that hang out at Cafe Bastille have seen his photos and they like his work. They just don't email him. They are silent observers.

Love the photo Eric. It is very vibrant. I bet it glows in the dark. Another great painting by Eric. I was at Cafe Bastille tonight. When I got home, I emailed Olivier, one owner of Cafe Bastille, a link to your site so that he can see what you said. He is a very nice man. He is going to really appreciate it.

Turning 27* isn't easy, but I suppose that the rest of my birthdays will become "just another day". Lily Hydrangea, I don't think it's Eric's birthday too, but we can wish him a happy one anyway. It was nice to see all of your notes this morning.

This is a FUN photo, Eric! I really enjoy looking at it enlarged -- There are so many details, with not only the skaters and the graffiti, but also the observers and other bystanders. Some parts of the image almost look superimposed on others. Fabulous!!

Guille, "I don't really understand what you and Lois mean when you say that you don't like the way US people treat ederly people..." For example, I was watching a film with a filmmaker from Paris, Jean-Baptiste -- the film was starring Simone Signoret -- not when she was young. I said to JB, if that were a Hollywood film, she would have had a face lift. JB said, she is highly respected as an artist in France.

Love the form, color, and movement of this photo. Is this a skate park? I think graffiti is fine in such places as a skate park, but not, as someone else said (Tomate, perhaps?), on historic buildings, monuments, gravestones, aloe plants(!), etc.

Guille: "I'm not an exlusive person! I can share a flat with you, Lynn, and all those who want it :) ... Anyway, you're welcome anytime you want."

Monica: "I'll take the offer even if for a day!!! And you're welcome to stay in my flat anytime you want too, that is, if you ever feel like coming to Rio. Michael seems to enjoy Rio a lot, so maybe you would too!"

Please visit, stay, or whatever at Chez Lois Simon when you are in San Francisco or when I am in Paris. I am a bit of a gypsy.

Loisbe careful with invinting people in here or we all turn up. This morning there was an article on the Times about a girl inviting people on Facebook and Bebo and 400 "guests" turned up and destroyed the house (TVs--in-the-pool type of affair)

Guille, must add my 2 centimes to Lois's: My mother is 88 years old, brilliant, and still works. But I have seen people talk to her as though she is 5 years old. They seem to think that as one's hair turns gray, their intellect fades too. Glad to hear you'll like me as an eccentric vieille dame, because of course I plan to be in that apartment of yours as well -- you'd better get a big one, eh?Eric, the more I look at this photo, the more things I see in it (where's Waldo?). Was this part of your photo-taking expedition of the other day, or are you just spending a lot of time in the 12eme lately?BTW, how do you say to skateboard in French? Faire de la planche?

Thanks Lily, getting there. Doc says will be another two weeks before start to feel better. Anyone got any good books i could borrow? lol...

Happy Birthday, Michael! It sounds so good i said it twice. How are you spending the day? I'd like all the celebratory details please. Make me jealous. I can just about stand it.

Eric: Est-ce que tu fais le skate?

No Guille, i will not apologise for using 'tu' with Eric because he already knows how cheeky i can be - I like to think he even enjoys it - and, in any case, he and i are 'like that' (crosses two fingers held in the air) - so there! LOL.

Eric -- actually it's mostly only women with gray hair who have this problem. On a man, it just looks good, or distingue. Hello, Richard Gere and, apparently (au moins, un peu) . . . you! ;~}Am off to see the SATC movie. Would love for it to include a cameo by Baryshnikov (I'm with you, Lynn).

Oops! I goofed on that one Michael-I have to speed read these comments some days just to try & keep up & I misread!so please consider my comment an early birthday greeting Eric!& Michael, Happy Birthday!

Alexa and Lois, I understand what you mean now. I hope it's not going to be the same here. Today 'ederly people' (see, I learn!) are not 'old' anymore. I mean my grandmother for example takes art history courses, she rambles and visits France up and down. It's amazing to treat them as if they were mentally reduced!

Alexa you can use 'faire de la planche' but this expression refers more to sailboards than skateboards.

I will add you to the list people for whom we are celebrating at my party tomorrow night. You, Craig (June 9), Tommy from L.A. (April...ooops, a little late), me. I'll wait a few weeks for wishes to Votre Reine.

I will add you to the list people for whom we are celebrating at my party tomorrow night. You, Craig (June 9), Tommy from L.A. (April...ooops, a little late), me. I'll wait a few weeks for wishes to Votre Reine.

Rose, I'm hardly a "girl" (smiles) I don't post anything on facebook. When I lived in NYC I use to have big parties in my loft that would last for days -- hundreds of people. I was a "girl" then. The loft wasn't destroyed actually. It did take a beating though. My kitchen table was smashed, empty wine bottles in my flower pots, the toilet was broken, and there was a strange man sleeping on one of my sofas. I don't have parties like that anymore. Thank you for being concerned about me. I live in a building with high security. Intercom system and security men and a concierge.

Ah so the latest news is that Angelina Jolie has given birth to twins in France. Eric are you going to bring us one of the first photos? In fact, i'm not too bothered about Angelina, quite like to see the twins, but... more to the point....are you going to bring us... BRAD ? :)

Eric, where do you see it's cloudy and rainy here?There is blue sky and sun shining over paris today.My dear love is just back from the day at Roland Garros, and I can tell you she's much more tanned than when I left her this morning ;o))

Hey Lynn ... I happen to be here for a moment, so I hope Guille won't mind if I answer for her ...

"Vouvoyer" and "tutoyer" are the verbs for employing "vous" or "tu" with someone. To err on the side of politeness, I tend not to use "tu" with any adult at first. Sometimes I wait until the person says something along the lines of, "Pas la peine de me vouvoyer," i.e. "No need to use 'vous' with me."

I just double-checked, and the 501 French Verbs book says to use the same conjugation as "employer," which would mean:je vouvoietu vouvoiesil/elle/on vouvoienous vouvoyonsvous vouvoyezils/elles vouvoient

Well Guille, clearly it's 'by conjugation', Clever Socks! I did not recall that spelling at all however from my grammar lessons MANY YEARS AGO. OK? I had a blank. A blonde moment, if you like. he he. Am i forgiven, Mme Guille? I guess i'm getting extra homework this week huh? LOL.

Guille, thanks for letting me know that "faire de la planche" at least means something -- it was a total guess!Lynn, I don't want to give anything away, so will just say that I had read some negative reviews of SATC -- and I don't know what they were talking about. Hope you are feeling good enough to go see it very soon. Am curious to know what you think of it. I will only reveal that, alas, Mikhail does not make an appearance. Oh well, it still features the hunky (IMHO) Big -- and Smith, and a guy named Gilles Marini: If Olivier Martinez and Antonio Banderas had a child together, he is exactly what that child would look like. Hope the anticipation of feasting your eyes on this fellow (in ALL his glory, btw) will make you heal even faster.

OMGoodness, Alexa, i feel better already! Ohhh shame Mikail will not be there but i do adore Big too. I really can't wait. I've been invited by a male friend (no he's just a friend, though he wants more than that - i don't but that's another story LOL) and will probably go when feeling a bit better, but would prefer to go with a girlfriend or ten who know all about SATC! Perhaps we'll email when i've seen it, so as not to spoil it for the others!

Katie: Great story. I love that these kids thought of recycling their skates for the younger ones. One time I got lost trying to find the "new" Target next to the freeway by El Cerrito (?) and ended up right in front of a huge skate ramp not to far from there. Is this the one you are talking about?

I have a classic: A news man was interviewing college students during Spring Break on the beach. He turned to a blonde and asked her what her major was and she said, "I want to be a vetenarian; because I love children".

Thib, Oui, oui, je sais. What can I say -- it was the best way to describe this marvel of manhood. And pas pour rien ("not for nothing," a very NYC expression), but Lynn clearly knew exactly what I meant. Maybe it's a girl thing?

Guille -- Lynn is right, and here in America too.But of course you know that your English is very VERY good.

Lynn -- your instinct is spot on: Definitely go with girfriends if at all possible!!!

Lois...LOL...or how about the intellectually-challenged blonde who asked what time it was and was told,"It's 2:45." Her puzzled reply, "Funny, every time I ask someone that question I get a different answer." Okay, okay, I'll stop. :-)

A group of girls were off on a night out. They hired a double-decker (two floors) bus to take them riding around London as part of the fun night.

They decided to have brunettes downstairs and blondes upstairs. As the night progressed, the brunettes were having a wild time, laughing, dancing, drinking Champagne. One of them shouts above the laughter, "I'm going to pop upstairs to see how the blondes are getting on!"

As the brunette gets up there, she notices it's all quiet. All the blondes are sitting rigid, staring straight ahead with white knuckles holding onto the handle in front of them. Nobody saying a word, all blondes just looking scared and staring at the road in the distance.

"Whatever's the matter?" asks the brunette, "We're having a great time downstairs..."

"It's okay for you!" says one of the blondes, her eyes fixed, "You've got a driver!"

coltrane_lives, Good one. Thanks. There are so many blondes in my family, men and women, that we don't think about how people perceive us because of our hair. My blonde joke was from the film "Earth Girls are Easy". BTW, how is your new addition to your family doing these days. Settling in?

Hey here is an interesting fact about blonde jokes. Did you know that in Bosnia jokes about the lack of intelligence in blondes are illegal? In October 2005, they passed the Gender Equality Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina (GEL) that makes it an offense for people to tell jokes about people based on their hair colour.

Lynn, I'm writing and laughing in the same time and I swear it's not easy. I'm not kidding, this one is screamingly funny. Maybe because I'm studying (or is it 'dying'?) and overexcited and too alone. LOL

he he that one always makes me giggle. Of course it goes without saying that if any blondes want to make a joke about brunettes, i'd laugh too! So long as they're clever jokes, naturally. Is that a problem for them? lol!

"Where is Eric, I thought he said that he posts his photos at midnight Paris time." I usually do Lois, only last night I attended a surprised birthday party... No, not the one of Michael, but the one of my niece and I'm just back.

And, yes Thib, you're right, the weather is nice right now ;) But I hear it's going to rain again... Grrrrr!

Lois...thanks for the question about our little Eloisa. She's really thriving and at 18 months is finding her stride. She loves putting on her older sister's (3 1/2 yrs) shoes and her clothes and doing everything big sister does. Kids are a hoot and they do want to grow up too fast! Just got back from dinner out with the two girls and soaked them all in ice cream...or was it the othe way around. Yeah, it was a fun affair! BTW Lois...your comments are priceless and stories so unique. :-) Ciao for now!